Aging not only brings on wrinkles and hair graying, it also brings on some health issues. Conditions develop and progress with age, and these conditions should be monitored so they do not reduce your quality of life. Some of these things are taken for granted, so you need to take care of them in order to preserve your health.

Incontinence

Incontinence and constipation are common as people get older. Pelvic muscles loosen and in turn, urine releases from the bladder. Kidneys can not remove wastes from our blood like it used to, and blood vessels harden and become less sensitive. Incontinence can also be caused due to sensation loss or dysfunction, cognitive impairment, loss of mobility, or stress induced.

Hearing can slowly diminsh over time with age. Be sure to get checked, and consider a hearing aid if needed.

Hearing Impairment

Hearing loss is one of the most common health issues for seniors, impacting one in four older adults. Aging affects the middle and inner ear. They do not work with the auditory nerve that travels to the brain like it used to. Loud noises will damage the hair cells in your ears, and those are the cells that help protect your ears and hearing.

Vision Loss

According to the CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of six seniors have a visual impairment. Issues with vision can include spots of floaters in your vision, blackness in your view, redness or pain in your eye, double vision, and blurred vision. Regular eye exams can catch any of these problems before symptoms occur.

Heart Disease

Heart Disease is the leading cause of death in adults over the age of 65, affecting almost 40 percent of men and 30 percent of women. High blood pressure and high cholesterol levels should be monitored because these are signs that your heart is working too hard. These conditions increase your risk of having a stroke or heart attack. In order to avoid this, exercise, eat a well-balanced diet, and go to yearly exams and talk to your doctor.

Skin Conditions

Skin becomes thinner and loses the ability to hold water as it ages. Your skin becomes drier, and in the end, this causes a loss of immune cells, which of course increases your likelihood of an infection because wounds take longer to heal. Elasticity also decreases, and age spots occur in areas that have been exposed to the sun.

Arthritis & Osteoporosis

One of the most common health issues among seniors is arthritis and bone loss. A healthy diet can help combat some of the symtoms and pain.

Arthritis occurs when the cartilage between your bones start to wear down, causing bone on bone rubbing. It is the number one condition that adults 65 or older get and must deal with. The CDC estimates that it affects half of adults over 65 and leads to pain. Arthritis decreases mobility and often stiffens and swells your joints, often discouraging adults from being active.

Bones start to weaken and become more brittle with time, causing a condition called osteoporosis. While growing up, everyone’s bones are constantly being broken down, followed by creating new bones. But by the time middle-age rolls around, typically between 30-40 years old, bone loss increases since bone growth has stopped by your 20’s. Your bones become weak, causing osteoporosis in adults 65 and older. As your bone mass becomes low, you are more likely to fracture or break a bone, which can lead to mobility issues and lessened quality of life.

Yearly doctor visits and consulting with your doctor with any of these issues can help prevent them from getting worse. Your overall quality of life will be improved if you stay on top of your health, stay active, and eat right.

With the weather getting worse during the winter months, you end up getting stuck inside your home a lot. Being cooped up indoors for a long time can drive anyone crazy, and for some cause seasonal affective disorder. Seasonal affective disorder is when you get depressed during the change of seasons, typically begins fall and carried on through the winter season. Because it is safer indoors than being out in the frigid cold, it is important to try and find ways to manage the distress. It can be a fun time, as long as you make it that way. There are entertaining things you can do while homebound in order to avoid depression, isolation, and boredom.

Board games

Games and puzzles are a great way to kill time, while having fun. You can play by yourself, or play with loved ones.

Take the time to volunteer for a local church or hospital. You can crochet/knit hats, scarves or gloves.

Games like scrabble and Sudoku are fun and work your brain at the same time. You can also play card games such as solitaire, or online games if you can manage.

Volunteer

If you are bored, then you can consider doing some charity work. You can call the local hospital or church and see if you can help out with anything, such as knitting or crocheting blankets from the comfort of your home.

Connect With Friends & Family

Take the time of being stranded indoors to catch up with family or friends. You can take the time to write a letter, or make some calls to connect with loved ones.

Learn Something New

Take an online class or tutorial! There are many options to choose from, whether learning a new language, DIY crafts, drawing, painting, modeling clay, play an instrument, or cooking classes. Use the time to learn a new hobby from the comfort of your own home.

Plan A Vacation

What a better time to think about your next vacation than when you are snowed in? Start planning a vacation you would like to go on with loved ones or alone for the spring and/or summer. You can also take the time to plan your next get-together with friends.

Exercise

Get up and move! There are many safe exercises you can do from the comfort of your

Take the time to catch up on a good book.

own home that will boost your mood. You can even use a chair to do some exercises, including yoga.

Spend Time Reading

Reading has a lot of benefits for the brain. You enhance your cognitive skills when you read a book everyday. It improves memory, reduces stress, and you can expand your vocabulary by learning new words.

Watch A Movie/Show

Make a day of popcorn and your favorite movies on the couch. Remember that too much TV is not good for your health, so keep the movie/show days to a minimum.

It has always been said that being around kids keeps you young, and this theory applies to seniors as well. Seniors who babysit, or are around their grandchildren often live up to 5 years longer than seniors who do not. Research analyzed over a 20 year period concluded that out of 500 seniors 70 years old and older, those who provided some form of care to their grandkids had a lower death ratio than those who did not. The study was published in Evolution and Human Behavior, and showed that the senior babysitters had a 37% lower mortality risk. There are multiple

Improves Brain Function

Being around kids keeps your brain function high, because you are either helping them with their homework, or learning new things from them. Your brain is constantly working when you are with children, which helps your cognitive function better and for longer. Studies also show that your memory improves as well.

Keeps You Active

When you are not learning new things from your grandkids, chances are you are running around with them and playing catch or doing an outdoor activity with them. You are more likely to get up and be more active when your grandkids are around than when they are not.

Lowers Risk of Depression

Can you think of anything better than the love you receive and feel from family, especially your grandkids? Being around your grandchildren will increase your happiness and mental health. Seniors are less likely to be depressed when they are around their grandkids consistently.

Geriatric medicine specialist Dr. Ronan Factora thinks that the reasoning for a longer life is due to the reduction of stress when with your grandkids. Dr. Ronan Factora said, “there is a link between providing this care and reducing stress and we know the relationship between stress and higher risk of dying. If providing care to grandchildren and

The benefits of being around your grandchildren include helping you feel younger, decrease stress, increase your lifespan, and make you happier overall.

others in need is one way that can actually reduce stress, then these activities should be of benefit to folks who are grandparents and provide this care to their grandkids.”

As of course with everything, moderation is key. Do not overexert yourself with babysitting every single day. That will only create stress and tire you out, because let’s be honest, kids are a handful! Take some time 2-3 times a week to plan some hangout time with your grandkids, you will all benefit from it. Your relationship with your grandkids is important to both you and your grandkids. A strong bond with them reduces depression, and makes your time together more enjoyable and fun. Your adult grandkids also receive some mental health benefits from a strong relationship with you. Call your children and begin setting up some playdates with your grandkids, it will increase your life’s expectancy and value.

Hearing that someone you love is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s can be devastating. It is not only tough for the person going through it, it is also tough for the entire family. Over 16 million people in the U.S. care for someone that has Alzheimer’s. Watching someone you love slowly forget who you are and the details of their life is challenging and overwhelming. It will bring on feelings of frustration, and depression. Learning about the disease, and strategies to cope with it can make the process a little easier. It can also help you prepare for the future of what is to come before the disease worsens.

Educating yourself about Alzheimer’s can help you understand the disease, and prepare you for what’s to come.

Educate Yourself About The Disease

Alzheimer’s is the 6th leading cause of death in the U.S. with 1 in 3 seniors dying with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Learning as much as you can about the disease and how it progresses can help you understand how to deal with it and cope. Understanding what the disease entails will help you empathize with your loved one and provide you with the knowledge to help slow it down, and treatment options.

Create Realistic Expectations

People with Alzheimer’s do not get better unfortunately, symptoms progress and worsen. Information you provide your loved one with Alzheimer’s will be forgotten, so it is important not to set unrealistic expectations for them. You should learn to expect the unexpected, and take it one day at a time.

Respond Gentler

When a loved one is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, it can be really frustrating to constantly remind them of something. It hurts that they are losing memories and recognition of who you are, but it is important to be more gentle with them. Using validation instead of frustration and anger. It will only frustrate them, which will make it even harder for them to remember anything.

Remind Your Loved One

There will be many times, especially after the disease progresses, that your loved one will forget your name and things. Simply remind them who you are, and show them pictures and videos of family and friends. This can help trigger their memory, and if not, then it will be nice for them to hear the stories of the people who love them.

Develop Routines/Schedule

Create a daily routine and schedule for your loved one do they can have some sort of structure in their life. It is important to have set schedules for them to help get rid of as much confusion and frustration as possible. Allow your loved one to do as many things as possible by themselves if they can. It helps them restore some confidence.

Accept Changes

There is not point in trying to change your loved one to the person they were before the disease. Learn to grieve the loss, and accept who they are now and that the only thing you can change is your attitude towards it. Your relationship with your loved one will constantly change over time.

Good Nutrition Can Help

Research has linked Alzheimer’s to nutrition. Limit refined sugars and increase vegetable intake to help manage the disease. Leafy green vegetables has been linked to improved cognitive performance.

Prepare Wills & Finances

Make sure the loved one’s living will and finances are all prepared and completed. This will help alleviate any stress or issues that may come along as the disease worsens, leading to medical bills such as hospice.

Take Care Of Yourself

Do not burn yourself out, and remember to take care of yourself. Being a caretaker for a loved one with Alzheimer’s gets to be very time consuming. You focus all your time and energy on them and forget to take time for yourself. Take some time for yourself throughout the day. You can join a support group and talk with others who are going through

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s can be a lot to take on. Lean on family for help so you can take a break.

the same feelings as you of loss, sadness, and even resentment.

Involve The Family More

Taking care of your loved one alone is really stressful. You can rely on your family for help when needed, and ask your family for more support. If you feel like you need to take a break, lean on your family members, and ask them to help you when you need it. It is a lot of work emotionally and mentally helping someone that has Alzheimer’s. Create a care plan with your family so they can help pick up the slack in some areas such as cleaning.

Taking care of a loved one with Alzheimer’s or even going through the whole process is draining and releases a flush of emotions. The first and foremost thing is to remember that there is nothing you can do or change, but your attitude towards the situation. Remain as calm as possible around your loved one and remind them of the good times. They may not remember memories over time, but one thing they can still remember is emotions and can sense yours. Be more patient and grieve the loss of who they were, but you can create new memories with them and have fun together. Take advantage of the time you have together, and ask for help and a break when needed.

The American Cancer Society estimates 13,000 women to be diagnosed with cervical cancer this year. About 50% of these women are 50 or over, and 15% of them are aged 65 and older. Cervical cancer can easily be identified through a routine Pap smear. Luckily for women 65 and older. Medicare covers Pap tests and pelvic exams to ensure health, and review risks. Taking advantage of these services Medicare offer can help evaluate any issues, and treat them early on. More importantly, these services can help prevent cervical cancer.

After the doctor collects specimen from cervix, it is sent to a lab to look for pre-cancerous cells.

Pap Smears

Pap smear tests screen for signs of cervical cancer. The doctor uses a small device shaped like a spatula to scrape a few cells from your cervix. The specimen collected is then sent to a lab to check for any pre-cancer cells or abnormalities. If the doctor is able to identify any pre-cancerous cells early on, then you can be treated before the cancer fully develops.

What’s Covered By Medicare

Medicare Part B covers Pap smears and pelvic exams to screen for vaginal and cervical cancers once every 2 years. The screening also includes a clinical breast exam to screen for breast cancer. If you are at high risk for cervical or vaginal cancer, then Medicare will cover the screening tests every year.

A woman is considered high risk for cervical or vaginal cancer if she:

Was sexually active before the age of 16.

Has had 5 or more sexual partners.

Ever had a sexually transmitted disease.

Has received less than 3 negative pap smears within the last 7 years.

As long as you meet the eligibility requirements and get the annual screens done, then these services are free. The Pap smear test, lab work, pelvic exam, and breast exam are all free. The only way you will have to pay for these services is if you go to a doctor that does not accept Medicare assignment.

Women 65 and older should think about their cervical health and get pap smears for prevention of cancer. Medicare covers it so use it.

Healthcare has become costly over the years, so what could be better than free healthcare? These services are covered 100% by Medicare, which is one of the reasons to go get checked. The other more important reason to get checked is that the only way to prevent cervical or vaginal cancer, is to get screened. This way you can catch it early on before it develops into later stages. Something as simple as a pelvic exam and pap smear test can save a woman’s life. For women who are 65 and older, it is especially important to utilize these services so they can live a longer healthier life.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, CMS, announced that they will begin covering Medicare cancer patients’ diagnostic lab tests using gene sequencing technology. It began last November, when a genetic sequence test called FoundationOne CDx. The test can detect mutations in 324 genes, was approved by the FDA. The CMS worked with FDA regarding the F1CDx effectiveness and its detection of genomic signature on any solid tumor.

CMS stated they will now cover genetic testing in order to find better treatment plans.

What This Means

Medicare patients with advanced cancer will now be able to get a more informed treatment plan that is personalized due to the genetic tests. “These tests can help doctors consult with patients about more targeted care or enrollment in a clinical trial,” said Kate Goodrich, M.D., CMS chief medical officer and director of the Center for Clinical Standards and Quality. With the genetic sequence testing, cancer patients will be able to be matched with drugs that will make a difference. It will not cure cancer necessarily, but it might give the patients a few months to a year more to live.

According to the CMS, patients that will be eligible to get the tests covered under are those with metastatic, relapsed, refractory or stages 3 or 4 cancers.

“We want cancer patients to have enhanced access and expanded coverage when it comes to innovative diagnostics that can help them in new and better ways,” said CMS Administrator Seema Verma in a statement. “That is why we are establishing clear pathways to coverage, while at the same time supporting laboratories that currently furnish tests to the people we serve.”

Hopeful Future

Genetic testing will hopefully help those with advanced stages of cancer.

The continuous testing of tumors will generate a large amount of data on Medicare patients. Those within the clinical trial will be kept track of the treatments and outcomes. Doctors and hospitals will gather all the information and are able to help pharmaceutical companies fill the treatment trials with genetically-matched patients.

The genetic sequence testing that focuses on tumor cell DNA will be revolutionary to the medical field pertaining to those with advanced cancer. FDA-approved tests will be automatically covered by the insurance. Doctors can still order any other tests that are no-FDA approved, but the CMS stated that the local Medicare Administrative Contractors will evaluate if the cost will be covered.